City BIDs hit out at mayors’ tourist tarriff plea
Business Improvement Districts in Manchester and Liverpool have raised concerns about calls for a visitor tax by combined authority mayors including Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram.
Earlier this month, the mayors of Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, the North East, West Yorkshire, and the West Midlands made a joint plea to government for powers to introduce a tourist tax.
They said the tax, similar to those in operation in many European destinations, would unlock funding for tourism and cultural infrastructure and drive regional growth.
At present, cities do not have the power to enforce a visitor tax. The mayors have asked for that to be changed.
In response, the Manchester and Liverpool BIDs have sent an open letter to the government urging caution.
The letter, also signed by the Manchester Hoteliers Association and Chester Hospitality Association, points out that there are already “successful” levies currently in place in Manchester and Liverpool. These are managed by the city’s ABIDs – accommodation business improvement districts.
“The overnight visitor levies are administered by the hotels who have, collectively, put individual systems in place to manage the collection,” the letter states.
The BIDs are concerned that moving to a “politically-led” tourist tax would raise uncertainty about how the proceeds are spent and potentially take vital funding away from a “beleaguered” sector.
There are worries that “vague legislation” [could] generate huge amounts” for a city but mean that hotels and the hospitality sector “have no say in investment”, like in Edinburgh, where the BIDs claim the planned introduction of a levy “has alienated the private sector and hotels”.
The BIDs believe the levies currently in operation in Manchester and Liverpool is a “proven working model… that focuses on driving forward a sustainable visitor economy and fundamentally increasing visits, not dissuading them, as exemplified by the tourist taxes in Venice, Amsterdam and Lisbon”.
A tourist tax like the ones being pursued by the mayors “risks unpicking all of the good work done by the private sector in building a flourishing and thriving visitor economy among some of our hardest hit communities”, the letter states.
Sometimes you think the BIDs are fighting a losing battle as they strive to keep city centres viable and attractive, however in Liverpool, for example, street beggars are allowed to leave their blankets and duvets in the street for up to 5 days before council workers can remove them and their other mess.
By Anonymous
Politicians getting involved would mean taxation, control and waste of money. Let the BIDS get on with their own scheme and improve our tourist trade
By Anonymous
Not sure I can agree that it isn’t a good idea to give further powers to raise tourist revenues. With ever constrained local government budgets (even the BID teams cant have failed to notice what has happened in Birmingham – bankruptcy and refuse filled). One of the ways the mayoral areas could allocate funding could be towards eradicating homelessness and supporting drug addiction programmes – as a social issue this impacts on urban safety and the overall experience of visitors to cities. I do think BID teams should be given a statutory oversight role in any programme to raise or spend.
By Andrew
So the BIDs are upset their power to impose and collect their own private tax might be threatened and that they would then have to bid for future funding and/or have outside accountability?
Well they would be raising concerns, wouldn’t they?
By Anonymous
Totally agree the current system works well and gives business ownership why chat?
By George
Totally agree the current system works well and gives business ownership why change ??
By George
But for his P R machine Burnham would be a nobody
He spends his time seeking self publicity and little with those in Greater Manchester who do much for the area but do not share his political beliefs
By Max
Just an FYI. I stayed in Amsterdam last week for a conference. The underlying room bill was ~£1000 and city taxes were >£100. That’s a huge revenue stream, and might account for the fact the public realm there is light years better than Manchester. The current ABIDs charge £1 or £2 and are restricted to the city centre and raise £3-5M.
By Rich X
Whilst I agree with the general thrust of what the BIDs are saying, I’d offer this word of caution to Liverpool’s BID: as a punter who uses the city centre a lot, you guys look like you’re asleep on the job. The place looks dirty and uncared for compared to your earlier days and the groups of men who now gather around Bold St in particular, leering at women and girls is extremely off-putting. Get your own house in order first. You used to do a good job.
By Anonymous
@Anon 9.15am, yes BID need to up their game somewhat, and as regards Bold St that corner at the side entrance to Central St where those guys hang out every day begging and leaving an awful mess of litter and fluids, it need jetwashing and is not a good site for visitors entering or leaving the station.
By Anonymous
Most tourist cities have a tax now, anyone who has been in Liverpool city centre at the weekend couldn’t fail to support it
By Anonymous